Broken gas line repaired at University of Kentucky after part of campus evacuated

Several buildings at the University of Kentucky were evacuated for several hours Monday after construction workers hit a gas line, causing a leak.

Dylan Wright, Katelyn Hoskins, Hannah Meers and Kirsten Knecht, who work in UK's dining services, relaxed outside after they were evacuated from the W.T. Young Library due to a gas leak.
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A backhoe hit a gas line causing a leak and forcing evacuations on UK's campus. It was repaired by shortly before 5 p.m.
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Eric Hartman said he was awakened from a nap in Central Hall Two and was evacuated to the street after a piece of construction equipment hit a gas line, causing a leak.
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A piece of construction equipment hit a gas line Monday morning at the University of Kentucky, causing a leak that forced evacuations on campus.
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Workers waited under some shade for an all-clear after a construction accident caused a gas-line leak Monday at the University of Kentucky.
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W.T. Young Library was evacuated Monday because of a gas-line leak.
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Alex Nascimet, 23, of Brazil studied on some steps Monday after a gas leak forced him out of the W.T. Young Library.
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From left, University of Kentucky dining services employees Dylan Wright, Katelyn Hoskins, Hannah Meers and Kirsten Knecht were evacuated from the W.T. Young library after a piece of construction equipment punctured a gas line, causing a leak.
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Kristen Hanny, 26, left, and Rebecca Jude, 26, stood outside W.T. Young Library, where they work, waiting for a broken gas line to be repaired.
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A campus tour at the University of Kentucky was diverted Monday after a construction accident caused a gas-line leak.
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Library workers stood outside the W.T. Young Library after a gas leak forced the evacuation of the library, several dorms and the parking garage on Hilltop.

The William T. Young Library and several adjacent buildings on the University of Kentucky campus were evacuated for several hours Monday after a construction machine hit a gas line, causing a leak.

The broken line was repaired shortly before 5 p.m., according to Lisa Smith, a spokeswoman for Columbia Gas of Kentucky. The leaking gas was shut off earlier in the afternoon.

UK sent text alerts about 2:15 p.m. advising the campus that the "emergency condition had passed" and normal activities could resume.

"No one was hurt; that's the good news," Smith said.

The leak started about 12:30 p.m., when workers using a backhoe accidentally punctured a 2-inch plastic natural gas line that was providing service to Haggin Hall, one of the new dormitories under construction at UK, university spokesman Carl Nathe said.

Nearby buildings were evacuated, and workers closed off a 500-foot radius around the leak as a precaution, Nathe said.

Gas leaked for about 90 minutes, Smith said.

UK officials said the list of buildings that were evacuated included Central Hall I and II; Young Library; the Mines and Minerals Building; Donovan Hall, which is slated for demolition; and Haggin Hall.

The parking garage at Rose Street and Hilltop Drive also was closed and, as a precaution, people who had parked there were asked not to move their vehicles until after the all-clear was sounded.

People in the area around the Young Library reported a strong smell of natural gas.

A relatively small number of people were on campus Monday because the university is between semesters. Among those present were some teachers and prospective students taking campus tours.

Smith described the broken gas line as made of strong, rigid plasticlike material.